Powered adjustable rear view mirror for a truck trailer

ABSTRACT

A truck mirror intended to be attached to the front end of a trailer unit behind a tractor pulling the same with the mirror being remotely controllable by the driver from inside of the tractor cab in a manner to rotate the mirror from an inoperative storage position to an operative projected position so that the driver may readily see to the rear of the trailer when backing the same into a loading dock or the like without any necessity for an additional person to guide the driver into the proper dock location.

United States Patent 1 [111 3,868,176 Young Feb. 25, 1975 [54] POWERED ADJUSTABLE REAR VIEW 3,741,633 6/1973 Haley 350/302 MIRROR FO A TRUCK TRAILER; FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [76] Inventor: David E. Young, Rt. 2, Box 133, 1,538,484 7/1968 France 350/302 South Point, Ohio 45680 [22] Filed Dec 5 1973 6 Primary Examiner-Gerard R. Strecker [21] Appl. No.: 421,768 [57] ABSTRACT A truck mirror intended to be attached tothe front 52 us. Cl 350/289, 350/299, 350/302 end of a trailer unit behind a treeter pulling the same 51 Int. Cl. G02b 5/08 with the mirror being remotely Controllable y the 5 Field f Search N 50 9 0 3 7 2 9' driver from inside of the tractor cab in a manner to 3 50 2 30 rotate the mirror from an inoperative storage position to an operative projected position so that the driver 5 References Cited may readily see to the rear of the trailer when backing UNITED STATES PATENTS the same intoa loading dock or the like without any 2 87] 76 2/1959 Snyder 350/289 necessity for an additional person to guide the driver 2:988:957 6/1961 KotoraI: 12212: 350/289 ux the proper dock 3,208,343 9/l965. Prochnow 350/302 1 Claim, 5 Drawing Figures W 14 i 12 l I i i 16;, l/ I} l K 15 Y7 Z5 POWERED ADJUSTABLE REAR VIEW MIRROR FOR A TRUCK TRAILER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to rear view mirrors for trucks, trailers, semi-trailers and thelike and more tractor units which pull the same, such assemblies commonly referred to as semi-trailers and the like, such trailers have very wide bodies such that when backing the trailer up it is necessary for the tractor to be disposed at an angle to the trailer, such angle preventing the driver from viewing the far side of the tractor body so as to be unable to see rearwardly of the tractor body at the far side thereof. Thus, it is normally required that an additional person be present to guide the driver, or alternatively, it is normally required that the driver leave the tractor cab and inspect the far side of the trailer body as to clearance and the like during several stages of the backing up process in order to assure that the far side of the trailer body does not encounter any other trailers, posts, or the like when the driver is backing the trailer into a loading dock or the like for loading or unloading purposes.

While rear view mirrors are known for use with trucks, trailers and the like in a manner mounted on the tractor cab and projecting a great distance outwardly therefrom in order to clear the wide body of the tractor and provide an unobstructed view of the roadway to the rear of the trailer body when the tractor is pulling the same, such mirrors are not effective when the tractor is at an angle to the trailer as far as the seeing of the rear of the far side of the trailer body is concerned.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention recognizes the problem of tractor trailer drivers as to lack of visibility of the'far side of the trailer and the far side rear end thereof when backing the trailer, and provides a novel solution thereto in the form ofa remotely controllable rear view mirror unit adapted to be mounted to thefront end of the trailer body and remotely controllable from the cab of the tractor by the driver between an inoperative position disposed generally inwardly of the trailer body and operative position projecting outwardly from the side of the trailer body such that the driver may see through the mirror along the far side of the trailer body to see the far rear end portion of the trailer body; The

operative position may be remotely selected by the driver from the tractor cab to provide the desired line of vision along the tractor body side as the position of the tractor cab varies relative to the position of the trailer body as the trailer is backed rearwardly into a loading dock or the like.

supporting the mirror under the control of the seated tractor driver.

A further feature of the present invention provides a remotely controllable rear view mirror adapted to be mounted on the front end of a trailer body to provide a reflected line of vision for the driver to see along the far side of the trailer body to the rear end thereof while backing the trailer into or pulling the trailer from a loading dock or the like.

Still a further feature of the present invention is the provision of a rear vision truck mirror which is relatively simple in its construction and which therefore may be readily manufactured ata relatively low cost and by simple manufacturing methods.

Still a further feature of the present invention is the provision of a remote controllable rear view vision truck mirror which is easy to use and efficient in operation.

Yet still a further feature of the present invention provides a remote controllable rearview vision truck mirror which may be manufactured and installed as part of the original equipment of the trailer, or which may be readily attached to the trailer later as an accessory item.

Other features and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course of the following descriptron.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OFTHE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which like reference characters It is a feature of the present invention to provide a remotely controlled truck rear view mirror which may be remotely aimed by the driver while seated in the tractor are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

FIG. 1 is a prespective view of a tractor cab attached DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawingsin detail there is illustrated a preferred form of a remotely controlled rear view vision truck mirror which is constructed in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention and designated in its entirety by the reference numeral 10. For purposes of illustration a pair of mirror units 10 are shown mounted at the opposite sides of the front end 11 of a semi-trailer 12 having a top surface 14, a back end 15, opposed vertical side wall surfaces 16 and 17, and supporting wheels 18.'The trailer 12 is provided at the front end with a conventional hitch 19 which is pivotally connected to a conventional hitch 21 projecting rearwardly from a tractor cab 22 including a conventional driver compartment 23 and which is provided with a pair of outboard rear vision mirrors 24 projecting outwardly from each side of the cab in the conven tional manner. As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, a driver 25 is in the process of backing the semi-trailer 12 to loading "deck 26:. As noted, in rhie epreeednre of backirig they: "'desligiiaiediby airowsssm heuwith memeima j trailer, the trader eab 22"is disposed ata'n' angle to the pesitions of the lbrecketf32abeing designetediin hanf longitudinal axis of the trailer 12 such thati while rh'e; mm eonfigurationby reference humeralsJZandBZl "driver can Clearly see side 16 e dibackend portin 16' Seen iniFlG. 5,:the electricalwiring supplying; 'ofthe trailer, the driver is unable to' see',eitherdirectly 5 eleetriealenergyto ehe inotor 38km itheif i f ir I or throughfeither mirror 24',ithe;far side l 7 and baek 'of suitable electrical wires desighate'di395 "and 39f'i r endlT, of the trailer body,

which, through use (if thesniitch 41-;whic,h{is10f a dou j i "As each of the mirror unitsilfleregidentieali0 each V bile poledeuble throw y e swireheo m rh monjj; 'j e 13 Other with their cmly differeneelbeing their p'os itions 38 tothebattery in fa mannerprevidm rmupenn i of mounting on the trailer front end! 1, ohly'cineof the ityreversal of the flewpf electrical energypthro ughithek 7 mirror unit s has'been shown in detail ih1FlGSi'3-{5with rmoterin Qrder to effect the reyersalref i'helsame, in a I ideriticalthereto.1;

it'bin'g understoedithatthe rehiaihing mirror Unit] is k'nownhmenner r, I

; :Tile r nirror unitli) eomipriesanelongaiedrectehgu tothe"hrackefilizis aidjritedibyihend suehecljustment-i I larly sh zipedreflecting mirror 31,eUshzipedbtacket 115 being permanently retained thereon hntil' etherwise fining a bright portion base ,33 ande pairof vertically tlhe braeket 32'relative) theytrailerjlz isreonrrolledi'by 32 having everticallydisPosed eylindricalsolid rod d'e manmilly altered; efter which allfurther adjusltmentfof I spaced ape rt horizontally.extendinglegs 34 and 35, 21 ewite'hql by,,( ifi\/Bf 25, Thusyeseeenin FlGiQZywhen i pairbfhmou'nting bracketsilifi and37,and anelectri fbacking thetrailerthedriyerienergiges the{m0torf38in c'ally powered reMersableelectrie meter 38 provided Z e mannerto rotate the mirror uhit feutwardly frem r f with Suitable electricalzwiring39 adapted to be con 1 itsPOsitiona jac ntffren end 1,1 'fi un 'w r ,nected tola sour'ee o'feleetriealpower; such as a'battery- {the mirrer 31 disposed manner prejeeting' out. I 40,: withc on trolof the motor being provided thrdu'gh; ifw'zirdly fremf trailer sicl e"I7, ;thetdriverladjustingthe *a mimuallyeperable switch 41" which is prferebly angle of thelbracket 32 relativeit -the trailer use of mounted on the dashboardfllinithe tractor cabdrivaer 5 the meme; until the driveris aljleito'isee'alonggthef Compartment 23-lforfeaseof reaeh and bperatienjbygf "SidetrailerLSide 1'2 te etrailer backferid 17 31113 'Clriversf;

driver 25 without having toileaye his seatedipositien. illlfi Of'i/iSiOi! being asiillus tratedlhy arrows GOihqFlG. The mirror 31 isof an elongated rectangular configu- 2v asipassirigjfrohrthettdriyers eyes to outboard rear ;vi-'

7 ration and is;pivotallyileonneeted along'itslleng itudineli sionrnifr rorl i from wheheefitit refleetedrearwardly V I axistothe red forming yerIieal base member 33' for piv-- 3Q to'mirr0r'31 frQmW'heriCeit ist againlrefledted rear .f

' m'ent mime mirronas willfbe later described. Eachef qbiekendfllS ofthertrailerif; t r H the legs 34 end 35 proje c t'horiz'omally {rem opposed}? 'Theid 'venithifoughthe'irse f thepresent:invention; I f it eta! movement about the ixis theireo fifor haYncledjustt wardly alongthe igie ifl to' the reeir.erlge flfof the -ends of base 33 with the ep'positeends thereof being iS thilsiilbl tfli aGk the trailer {Zen/bile havingtcempleteY I pivotally meunted' in braekets136end 37'frespec tlvgl ivjsibilityfoftheotherwisehid'denfer'sidepf the trailer i r 1 apart when; meunted on thefrdntfend 11 ofitreiler l l if I 'elirn-inat-ingtheneed fer eiiiadditina manner suchfas by bolt orthejlike. Eaeheflthe brak ii er the projecting {outwardly from the vbase of the tractor '-cab t 1 bracket, to receive the asseciated ends of thearn1 $f34 1 1 bOdy diiring'ihe'bae ng gpr qeeeis Qmdith isldrh efwig andtfisltherebe'tweerr. i

" bypivot pins-44The brackets 36 jandx37ered-isipqsedg anldf Bglekehd edgegeflthetraile'r, thiefproviding a in; I I

in substantial,eyertic'al alignment and plae'ed1verticall'yfv creasegi sefety fa ct'g mrh 'b ki g e tifaileryytlhisi, v I I I H persehtdigiilde V Tfl being mounted thereto'in'any suitable 1 the d'rive't0ihe preperilqeatibn'whehaligfii zihgmigkfi I 4Q withe;deck'for;lua'dinge pnldadihg pliljposesi rthisy k l fiidintiy leaye the etsf36 and:37"areprefereblyfofaU'shaperwith theplegsh rielirninatihgth eliminating frustration andlaggraya 10!! to the driver;

The; end Ofleg 35 ssoeieted*with braeket 311 fif-Aj while prcividirige a time andfizibor; seyihjg deyieen Q fi ed diametrically to a sp ur gear 51 having gear teeth w Ilt is tobei mderstood that the formjdf this ihvehtien V pivvot pin 44 in marineriprqvigling retativemevemerith ofthe gearabout-its axis; The motor 38 isprovicled with;

52 disposed about thecircunrference mememe gear herewith shewn end cleiserihedlfisgiebeq ehenasa pre' y f y i 51 and leg 35 being; pivotally' mounted to bracket 37 in! 7 f rried exa ple (if the sam a iij r thi ven i n;

nfot ft'o beflimi'tedltoftheieiraet' arrangement of p'a'rts" sh owhlin the ac c m gny n d wingsgeriae cribedin i V a shaft;;53 projecting out ofene end thereof andhavingt: this specification as varimi sehange in the detail's ef r a i V a -gear-54 mounted IhBX'CQH Vl/ifhlilt? teeth of thelg ar, eonstruetiu ae 'toshapegsize,andarrzingenientdfpa rts in positive engagement with teeth 52 of gea'rl, suehi maybe reserteclte withqut deparring fremjthejspir it bf it f that energizaiio ofthefrnotor38 will effect the rota 1 the invention, thesleopeef thene ve licenc e'pts thereef}-it; r

' Y nhe sides 1 and 1 7 one; trailer ll', andto anfoperate.beunderstoodthatnin'the-inward ineperative posi-r -pulling the trailersoias a V g tion of the mirrer unii IOthat the same isfprotected e'rwi se' hidden side of tjhe traile r tethe backendiof the i from read'm ud, stonexbugs and the like since the same 1 ediately re irwerdlyj'w of lthe treetor cab-:ZQJWith ,thel; meter readily piyotingithe':mirrd fgunit intdithe Opel? tiye'posiiio ,trhevn ovementjefitherbf 'eket'32 bein'g a sv erwthe s cope of the s ulifloi ned eliiime, 1

1 Having thus.described;ithef'inventioni w truek rhirrerf'intended for attacihrnent to the rontferidbfa trailer bedy -to =prdyide rear yie wflv isigjfl f A I I r ha tis claimed operative position where fhe mirror is spacedinwardly f i tive pesition fwher ltheiimirrer 31 land; bracket a projects outwardly of the sides eflh'eltfrailer bodyrlt isj f trailer whileheckihg ihe trailer 2inclffwith0qt heyihg i *leeyeihe treetereamith uek'mirrer bmprising i-w 4 lri operariomthe,erientation f themrrrer Jlre'letive} I I U-shaped configuration having a flat base member adapted to be mounted to the front end wall of said trailer, and a pair of vertically spacedapart horizontally outwardly projecting arm portions; U-shaped supporting structure including a vertically disposed rod shaped bight forming base mem her and a pair of depending horizontally disposed leg members;

pivot means pivotally connecting the free terminal end of each leg member to an associated one of said brackets between said bracket arms for swing- I ing movement relative thereto, each terminal end of each leg member being pivotally attached to said associated bracket intermediate said bracket arms by a vertically extending pivot pin interconnecting said arms and extending through a suitable opening in said terminal end of said associated leg member;

a mirror adjustably mounted to said base member for adjustable rotative movement thereabout;

gear member having the terminal end portion of one of said legs diametrically secured in juxtaposition thereto for movement therewith, said gear pivotally mounted by said pivot meansfor rotative movement about its axis, said gear having gear teeth disposed about the peripheral circumference thereof;

an electrically powered direct current motor having electrical wiring means to interconnect said motor to a source of electrical energy;

switch control means in the form of a double pole double throw toggle actuated switch interposed intermediate said motor and said source of electrical energy and adapted to selectively control both the energization and de-energization of said motor as well as controlling the direction of rotation of said motor; and c said source of electrical energy is in the form of a di- 7 rect current battery such that the control switch effects the reversal of battery polarity as applied to the motorfor controlling the reversing operations 

1. A truck mirror intended for attachment to the front end of a trailer body to provide rear view vision to a driver seated in a compartment of a tractor cab pulling the trailer so as to be able to see along the otherwise hidden side of the trailer to the back end of the trailer while backing the trailer and without having to leave the tractor cab, the truck mirror comprising: a pair of vertically spaced apart brackets adapted to be mounted to the front end of a trailer body adjacent a side edge thereof, each bracket being of a U-shaped configuration having a flat base member adapted to be mounted to the front end wall of said trailer, and a pair of vertically spaced apart horizontally outwardly projecting arm portions; a U-shaped supporting structure including a vertically disposed rod shaped bight forming base member and a pair of depending horizontally disposed leg members; pivot means pivotally connecting the free terminal end of each leg member to an associated one of said brackets between said bracket arms for swinging movement relative thereto, each terminal end of each leg member being pivotally attached to said associated bracket intermediate said bracket arms by a vertically extending pivot pin interconnecting said arms and extending through a suitable opening in said terminal end of said associated leg member; a mirror adjustably mounted to said base member for adjustable rotative movement thereabout; a gear member having the terminal end portion of one of said legs diametrically secured in juxtaposition thereto for movement therewith, said gear pivotally mounted by said pivot means for rotative movement about its axis, said gear having gear teeth disposed about the peripheral circumference thereof; an electrically powered direct current motor having a toothed gear wheel mounted concentric on the motor shaft with its teeth in driving engagement with the teeth of the first mentioned gear to effect the selective rotation of said gear in opposite directions about its axis to effecT the simultaneous movement of the mirror support member between an inoperative storage position inwardly of the trailer front end and an operative position wherein the mirror projects outwardly of the associated side of the trailer; electrical wiring means to interconnect said motor to a source of electrical energy; switch control means in the form of a double pole double throw toggle actuated switch interposed intermediate said motor and said source of electrical energy and adapted to selectively control both the energization and de-energization of said motor as well as controlling the direction of rotation of said motor; and said source of electrical energy is in the form of a direct current battery such that the control switch effects the reversal of battery polarity as applied to the motor for controlling the reversing operations of the motor. 